See how a 250-year-old tree was dismantled in Kansas City neighborhood

Throughout the week, neighbors passed by around the massive tree, admiring its size and history. Some took pieces from the wreckage, while others paid tribute to the local landmark.

Though appreciative of the history, many noted that it was dangerous and needed to be cut down due to rot and fungal growth at the base.

Crews spent Wednesday morning carefully dismantling Frank, the 250-year-old bur oak in Kansas City’s Northeast neighborhood. Arborists used ropes and rigging to lower heavy limbs, while smaller branches were cleared and loaded into trucks for removal.

Much of the tree’s canopy along the street side was brought down, but several limbs remained on the side facing neighboring homes, where workers limited cutting because a car was parked nearby.

By mid-afternoon, the visible portion of Frank had been significantly reduced, leaving only some limbs and the main trunk for future work. Crews will return to finish the job.

Frank was recognized as an official “Liberty Tree” by the Missouri Department of Conservation around the occasion of the nation’s bicentennial, or 200th anniversary, in 1976.

But now, the tree has fungal root disease and must be removed for safety reasons as the roots have deteriorated.